What does 'Getting to the Kwan' mean?
Let me explain ...
Hi Everyone,
You would have noticed that I have not posted in a long while. Let’s just say life took over. In other words, I succumbed to the challenge of delivering a regular newsletter. I’m restarting now with a new process and attitude in mind, and if they are successful, I will share the details with you someday.
Post this gap in posting my newsletter, now may be the best time to explain why I chose to call it ‘Getting to the Kwan’. My philosophy with this newsletter is simple. There is a kind of life I want to lead that involves maintaining a balance of various ‘good bits’, i.e. the kwan - good money, good people, painting and sketching, writing and editing books, watching movies, reading, sleep, rest, health, etc. This newsletter records my journey towards achieving that balance.
The word ‘kwan’ is from the film Jerry Maguire, one of my all time favourite films. For those of you who haven’t watched the movie, Jerry Maguire is a sports agent who gets fired from his company for circulating a ‘mission statement’, which is in effect a ‘values statement’ of sorts. He loses all his clients except for Rod Tidwell, a football player and constant whiner, who wants Jerry to get him a better contract. Rather than share a video clip of it to help you understand what the word ‘kwan’ stands for, in total writer/editor mode, I’m sharing the script.
As you can see, it’s a comedy with an underlying message. My favourite line from this piece of the script is writer/director Cameron Crowe’s note - ‘He says this next word royally, as if it's fine silk’. And if you watch the film, you will see what Cuba Gooding Jr, who plays Rod Tidwell, does with that instruction.
When the pandemic began, I felt like it was the right time for us to evaluate our lives. Most of us spend a lot of time thinking of what we have done and what we want to do, rather than thinking about how we want today to go, or if today is fulfilling.
My journey towards the kwan, that balance, is progressing steadily. I fill my life with different things that matter to me, and as I always have with this newsletter, I will continue to share those slices of life with you. I have 50 followers as of today and I am grateful to all of you. Stay tuned for more, and please share this newsletter with others who you think would like it.
Wishing you the kwan too,
Michelle.